ARDUINO BASED ACCESS POINT FINDER

1. ARDUINO BASED ACCESS POINT FINDER Jonathan Poynter

2. OUTLINE • Reasoning • Why I chose this idea. • Introduction • The Problem • Assumptions • Solution • Results • Conclusion

3. REASONING In modern workplaces documentation has become an large issue. In many cases some businesses will hire outside companies. If an problem arises with improper documentation a 5 minute fix can take weeks. With wireless technology becoming more common place, maintaining a functional network is crucial. The ability to have a handheld device that gives clear identification of information appeared promising.

4. INTRODUCTION I have seen many cases where a piece of wireless hardware was providing errors and the location of the device was unknown. This device is built off of an Arduino Uno micro processor. This is a simplified version of the original design. This device will detect access points based off of their IP addresses.

5. PROBLEM STATEMENT You are the Network Administrator for a company. The company operates within a compound each building has wireless connectivity. You network management software has just alerted you that an access point is reporting errors. You have just recently started, and your predecessor did not leave documentation of access point locations. The software has provided you with the access point's IP address

6. ASSUMPTIONS Understanding of network static IP addresses. The network accepts static IP addresses from devices. Problem access point is still broadcasting. Knows C programming language to some extent. User has knowledge of electronic circuits.

7. SOLUTION • What is the best way to find the access point. • Carry a laptop around the building continuously refreshing a web page. • Difficult to carry and use a laptop at the same time. • Carry a laptop and use a wireless network scanner software. • Again, Difficult to carry and use at the same time. • Network scanner app on a mobile device. • Smaller screens and it will pick up multiple access points to sift through all the IPs.

8. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) • What is the best way to find the access point. • Purchase a hand held wireless signal scanner • The company may not provide for a $1000+ piece of equipment • Build a portable, open source access point identifier. • Fully customizable, requires learning extra components.

9. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) • The device functions on a simple process. • Reads the broadcasted information from an access point. • Compares the information to the information stored within its program. • Reads out its results on a single LED. • LED activating indicates that the IP address matches the IP address within the program.

10. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) • Parts required: • Arduino Uno base unit. • WiShield V2, Arduino wifi shield. • Arduino programming software. • One LED with wire for connecting to Arduino. • The set up of the hardware is fairly simple. • When connecting the LED, first select the output pin desired.

11. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) • The WiShield pugs directly on top of the arduino base. • The pins and shape of the extention board will match up with the base. • Once the desired pins are selected, • Connect the ground pin of the LED to the ground port on Arduino. • Connect the positive lead of the LED to the selected pin on arduino.

12. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) • Once the physical assembly is complete, Arduino's programming software needs installed on a computer system. • The downloaded folder needs extracted. • The software runs from the root folder, no wizard setup. • I also created a shortcut of the program .exe file on my desktop for easy access.

13. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) • When preparing to program arduino, the drivers must be manually installed. • Though computer management, look under device management for the arduino device. • The device will appear as a usb device that has errors. • right click on the device and select update driver. • When prompted, browse the hard drive for the extracted folder from before. • Select the drivers folder. • Allow Windows to search this folder and locate the appropriate drivers for this device.

14. SOLUTION (CONTINUED)NOW THE FUN PART • Arduino works on a programming language that incorporates many languages, Ones I have found include: • C, C++ • HTML • some PHP • For me, this took learning. I have only scratched the surface of understanding the language. • Using example programs helped in understanding the code.

15. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) • For this demonstration, the program I created connects to an open network. • This is due to a known issue with the arduino wireless shield. • Some have been able to achieve in getting arduino to connect to a secure network however more often than not an open network is required. • With arduino being open source, users are encouraged to try to find solutions to problems like these.

16. RESULTS The arduino connected to the access point successfully. The LED lit when the it detected the appropriate IP address There is a slight delay when arduino refreshes with the access point IPs.

18. SOLUTION (CONTINUED) Wireless Shield Arduino Uno (base)

19. SOLUTION (CONTINUED)

20. CONCLUSION • The project worked well. • The project does not exactly match my original design but functions to the same extent. • During the course of this project I learned, • Basics of C programming language • Key lines of code used for Arduino’s outputs and inputs. • Communication with simplistic devices on a wireless network • The usefulness of and access points default broadcasted information.

21. FUTURE WORK Thank You! Jlpoynter15@gmail.com Possible cases to protect the circuitry that can also allow it to be easier to handle. Addition of battery pack. The project presently operates from the power from a wall adapter. A battery pack would free up use for the device. Modification to the code that will allow the device to identify an access point based on its MAC address.

22. REFERENCES Sheepweevil13. (Producer). (2011). Wireless access point finder prototype demonstration. [Web Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU533NC5HkM Geier, J. (2003). Identifying rogue access points. Wifi Planet, Retrieved from http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/1564431 Short, D. J. (2008). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.computerrepairmaintenance.com/locate-hotspots-with-wifi-finder-devices/ Evans, B. W. (2008). Arduino programming notebook. In Creative Commons (2ed ed.). San Francisco, California: Retrieved from http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_63/1108000/1108699/4/print/ARDUINO_NOTEBOOKv6.pdf Rickert, M. (2012). What is the range of wireless internet? [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/video_4751785_what-range-wireless-internet.html McCracken, H. (2010, July 12). Android gets a build-your-own-app app. PC World, Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/200902/android_gets_a_buildyourownapp_app.html

23. ACKNOWLEGEMENTS Arduino Team, creators and developers of the Arduino hardware and coding. Async_Labs, creators and developers of the WiShield hardware and support code. Daniel Brindley, assistance with learning Arduino coding and troubleshooting. Kevin Lay, demonstration video recording and editing.